How do we motivate ourselves and keep going?

The PL has been gone since the derby, how do we keep going knowing we are fighting for 2nd at best?

It's hard to motivate as a player/team when you're not fighting for the title - and to beat most teams in this league - you need to be 100% on. You can see how the heads of some of our players have dropped already, Lukaku, Rashford, Pogba even, they're just not giving 100% fighting after every ball etc.

It's the same for every side though. I do wonder if every other side are looking at 2nd plus as a must like this forum does though.
We could see a busier January window due to teams wanting signings to acclimatise to the league for 4 months before next years push.
I also think it will help the English sides in the CL. The excuse of intense games either side of important games doesn't really apply anymore.

The manager must do that, he is the leader of the group. Otherwise there are no harmonious between manager and players. Manager blame on players, some players not happy and maybe sometimes think this is bad/not good enough/not suitable manager for them. Then you will get kind of these result. Players playing with half of their heart even 1/4.

If they want to play for United, then they are playing for a place in the team for the next game and the game after etc, and a place in the squad beyond next season. That should be their motivation. If they're not motivated to perform week in week out regardless of what trophies are available, then get rid.

The desire to attain higher levels of performance in time for the CL group stage, other cups and future league campaigns is plenty motivation. We are in the middle of a rebuild project and those can take 3-5 years. Can't enter a state of regression just because we aren't winning the league this year.

I'd like to see us employ a style of play that can lead to sustainable excellence in the future

I think a lot of our squad must pinch themselves everyday to be at United. Some are mid table players at best and they know it, just waiting for the penny to drop. They can’t be motivated to be better as they are limited to their capabilities. I bet few who are top players must look at them and think I’d pick you last if this was the school playground but unfortunately we must play together. The fact there are no apparent leaders who will roast a poor performing player on the pitch either then I believe it will not get any better this season. This team is woefully unbalanced in terms of positions and technical ability and I pray for January signings as I believe we can easily finish out of the top 4 without any.

It comes back to what a part of the fans hostile to Mourinho used as argument. Football is supposed to be entertaining, so if we are not going to win then the players should try to have fun, improve individually and collectively. To me it means play every game to win while playing enthusiastically.

If they want to play for United, then they are playing for a place in the team for the next game and the game after etc, and a place in the squad beyond next season. That should be their motivation. If they're not motivated to perform week in week out regardless of what trophies are available, then get rid.

The attitude was poor entire first half. Has been since we lost to City. They need to remember the EPL is not the only thing to achieve in a season. Only Pogba, Shaw and Lingard looked interested today.

The attitude was poor entire first half. Has been since we lost to City. They need to remember the EPL is not the only thing to achieve in a season. Only Pogba, Shaw and Lingard looked interested today.

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You came back from a 0:2 against a team that sat deep, defended with all they had and scored twice from set pieces without creating much else. A team no less that has been doing very well all season, is a strong opponent and very tough to break down. And then you were unlucky not to score more and win. I have no idea why lack of motivation is being debated.

Ask them if they want to be playing in the Champions League or the Europa League next season? There wasn't really a title race this season, but there sure as hell is a top 4 race and we've played ourselves right back into it.

You came back from a 0:2 against a team that sat deep, defended with all they had and scored twice from set pieces without creating much else. A team no less that has been doing very well all season, is a strong opponent and very tough to break down. And then you were unlucky not to score more and win. I have no idea why lack of motivation is being debated.

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Indeed. Hell I got a warning for wumming because I had the audacity to suggest it wasn't a bad result in isolation.
I know not everyone is a fan of the style of play but it's been his Mandate for a decade plus it's not going to change now.

Can’t really do a lot when a team has won 17/18 games. They having a freak season whilst we having a normal season where we wouldn’t that be far off the top spot usually.

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If you think our previous sides from the last ten years with the likes of Rio, Vidic, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, VdS wouldn't be embarrassed to in effect be playing for nothing in the league in December then your wrong.

If you think our previous sides from the last ten years with the likes of Rio, Vidic, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, VdS wouldn't be embarrassed to in effect be playing for nothing in the league in December then your wrong.

We are becoming Arsenal.

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Erm do you remember 05-06 season? We were miles behind a certain Chelsea team at this stage with those above players. Oh and the 04-05 season too.

I don't know how any red blooded male can't be motivated in a competitive sport. I get annoyed if I'm on the losing team in a kick about with my mates. These guys have the added extra of being under the spotlight of the entire world. There's plenty of motivation.

The PL has been gone since the derby, how do we keep going knowing we are fighting for 2nd at best?

It's hard to motivate as a player/team when you're not fighting for the title - and to beat most teams in this league - you need to be 100% on. You can see how the heads of some of our players have dropped already, Lukaku, Rashford, Pogba even, they're just not giving 100% fighting after every ball etc.

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It shouldn't be hard to motivate ourselves to make a strong 2nd place finish. We will obviously have to stay sharp for the other cup comps as well, so I don't think Jose will let the prospects of not winning the league bleed into our FA Cup and CL preparations.

Another great way to motivate the players and get the fans excited is to unleash the team. The second half today we saw a team with true attacking impetus, line up like that every week. Try to blow away the other team. Something like this...

Allow the fullbacks to bomb forward. Allow Pogba and Mkhitaryan/Mata to interchange and join the attack. Overwhelm the opposition and ultimately let our players enjoy their football. If we lose then we lose, at least we can all accept we had attacking intent.